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lukas has commented on (155) products.

Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders

lukas, March 23, 2013

An egregiously praised short story collection from a so-called "genius grant" recipient. If he's a genius, any schmuck can be.

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Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders

lukas, March 23, 2013

An egregiously praised short story collection from a so-called "genius grant" recipient. If he's a genius, any schmuck can be.

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Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

lukas, February 27, 2013

Like author Ernest Cline, who also wrote the screenplay to "Fanboys," I grew up in the 80s and have an affinity for the pop culture from that decade. And while I never self-identified as a geek, I read comics, played arcade games, watched sci-fi and was awkward around girls. I'm pleased to see that geek culture has become mainstream, but Cline's book is an example of the excesses and weaknesses of writing that is based almost solely on 80s pop detritus and the nostalgia of a generation. "Ready Player One" is basically "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" set inside "The Matrix." It's fun enough to read, but the proliferation of pop culture references (everything from Devo to WarGames to Joust) quickly becomes tiresome and serves little purpose other than for Cline to bond with the geek-o-sphere. Again, it's fun, but empty.

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Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

lukas, February 27, 2013

Like author Ernest Cline, who also wrote the screenplay to "Fanboys," I grew up in the 80s and have an affinity for the pop culture from that decade. And while I never self-identified as a geek, I read comics, played arcade games, watched sci-fi and was awkward around girls. I'm pleased to see that geek culture has become mainstream, but Cline's book is an example of the excesses and weaknesses of writing that is based almost solely on 80s pop detritus and the nostalgia of a generation. "Ready Player One" is basically "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" set inside "The Matrix." It's fun enough to read, but the proliferation of pop culture references (everything from Devo to WarGames to Joust) quickly becomes tiresome and serves little purpose other than for Cline to bond with the geek-o-sphere. Again, it's fun, but empty.

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Cloud Atlas: A Novel by David Mitchell

lukas, January 30, 2013

Wow, people really like this book. I'll admit I didn't read it until after the movie came out, a movie I had no interest in (although who doesn't look non-Asian actors playing Asians?). Plenty of smarter folks than I am think this book is some kind of masterpiece. And it is virtuosic to be sure, with it's dazzling blend of styles and possibly interconnected plot lines, but is sure isn't much fun to read. I dare anybody to read the "Sloosha's Crossin' An' Ev'rythin' After" section out loud without snickering. Heck, just read that title. I don't get the fuss, but this is certainly hermetic post-modern wankery on the vastest, most self-indulgent scale.

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